Axle construction



Nov. 1o, 1942.

Ffa I F, w. BURGER AXLE CONSTRUCTION Filed Oct. 25, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 0 8 2 6 .Tv l e 1.. e 0 Qn 3 2 m y S 2 WL .my m 5W WM .A R w w (o. @n.. M RW i.. EW f ma WE@ w num Am..

Nov. 10, 1942.-

Patented Nov. 10, 1942 A XLE CONSTRUCTION Frederick W. Burger, Niles, Mich., assigner to Clark Equipment Company, Buchanan, Mich., a corporation of Michigan Application October 25, 1940, 'Serial No. 362,757

9 Claims` (Cl. 301-124) This invention relates to an axle construction for a trailer or dead axle in which dual wheels are provided at each end of the axle which are capable of rotating independently of each other and capable of being independently braked.

The present invention is a further development I of the disclosure in the copending application of Burton L. Mills, Serial No. 272,085, filed May 6, 1939, and consists primarily in an improved type of spring pad casting adapted to be mounted on the wheel spindle and in turn arranged for supporting the brakeshoe mechanism, as well as providing the torque resisting member between the two dual wheel spindle structures.

In the application referred to above, it was found that the type of supporting member upon which the spring was mounted, and which in turn interconnected the two wheel spindles and also provided the support for the braking member, could be improved upon and the entire design strengthened and lightened in weight.

The present invention therefore contemplates, in connection with a wheel spindle upon which are mounted two independently rotatable wheels,

a supporting member which interconnects opposed wheel spindles at opposite sides of the vehicle, which acts as the support for the spring i and also acts as the brake supporting means. This member is so arranged as to have suflicient lateral extent to compensate for any bending f1 Aloads imposed thereon due to the interconnection between the two wheel spindles. Also, as `now designed, the member has ample capacity for taking any torque and braking reactions incident to a trailer axle of this type. l

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will appear more fully from the following detailed description which, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, will disclose to those skilled in the art the particular construction and operation of a preferred form of the present invention.

In the drawings: Figure l is a top plan view, partly in section, of an assembly embodying the present invention;

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken substantially on line 2--2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a detail plan view of the supporting of independently rotatable wheels in the same manner as described in the above-mentioned copending application.

The inboard wheel member is adapted to have secured thereto the brakedrum 1, which brake drum is engaged by the internal expanding brakeshoes 8 carried on suitable pins 9 formed in the supporting member IU and indicated in detail in Figure 3. Extending through the spindle member 5 is the shaft I2 which, at its outer end, is provided with the flange I3 adapted to be bolted to the outboard wheel spider. At its opposite end the shaft I2 is mounted in a thrust bearing I4 and is splined as indicated at I5 to receive the brake drum supporting member I6 to which the brake drum I1 is secured. t will therefore be apparent that the brake drum II is secured for conjoint rotation with the outboard wheel, and consequently the application of the brakeshoes I8 thereto will result in applying braking effort to the outboard wheel. Intermediate the brake drums the supporting member IU is secured over the spindle 5, preferably having a press t thereon and being welded thereto. The boss 20 of the supporting member Il is adapted to cooperate with the end of the spindle member for locking the bearing I4 in position. The member l!) is provided with two axially spaced transversely extending portions 22 and 23, respectively, Vthe portion 22 carrying the bosses9 which support the brake shoes 3 and the associated mechanism normally carried upon a backing plate. The member 23 has a corresponding series of bosses 24 which support the brake shoes I 8 and the associated actuating mechanism, there preferably being a thin plate carried by these bosses to close the brake drum against the entrance of moisture, dirt, or the like. The transversely extending portions 22 and 23, which are preferably channel shaped as clearly indicated in Figure 2, converge at their ends to form end portions 25 and 26, respectively, these end portions being provided with openings 2l adapted to receive the bolts 2B whereby the web portion of suitable I beams 29 may be secured thereto, these I beams being connected at their opposite ends to a corresponding member I 0 supporting the opposite Wheel spindle. The bosses 9 and 24 of the member I 0 adjacent the end 26 provide through journals in which is mounted a cross shaft 3B, this cross shaft being actuated in any suitable manner to rotate suitable actuating means for the brake shoes. Preferably, the cross shaft 30 is pneumatically actuated to rotate suitable brake actuating wedges which expand the ends of the shoes into frictional braking engagement with the brake drums. It will be noted that the portion of the supporting member l intermediate the transverse channels 22 and 23 is open, and consequently the cross shaft 30 extends through this opening and the actuating means may be attached to the spindle or sleeve portion 32 of the member I0. In addition, the spindle portion 32 of the member le is provided with the transversely extending spring pad or support 33, which is of rectangular section and is disposed intermediate the transverse channels 22 and 23. which the center of a longitudinally extending leaf spring assembly may be secured to the supially spaced an'` appreciable distance so as to provide adequate support for the wheel spindle.- In

addition to this', the end portions 25'and 26 of the member lll are of such length as to afford suflicient bolting area so that a rigid connection can be made with the cross members 213, which will insure imparting of the stresses to both of the portions 22 and 23.` In this connection it will be noted that the ends of the member It! are provided With pad portions 35 and 36, shown clearly in Figure 4, whereby the flange portions 31 of the cross .members 29 bear .against these pad portions and prevent any possible relative movement `between .the I beam and the ends of the supportingmembe'r I0. This full bearing surface insures that any.bending stress imparted from the crossV members 29 to either ofthe Wheel .spindle supporting members Ii! will be trans mitted'to both of the transverse channels 22 and 23 which in turn are axially spaced apart a distance` suflicient to insure support of the Wheel spindleV Eagainst cantilever stresses. It will also be noted that the load on the bolts 23 is distributed to the I beam 29 over an appreciable area by means of vthe members 38 which are clamped against the web of the I beam and extend the full depth of this web throughout the bolting area.

It is therefore vbelieved apparent that I have provided an improved supporting member in which the stresses imparted thereto by tlhe loads and reactions imposed upon the Wheel spindle can be adequately supported and divided in such manner as to insure maintaining true' alinement of the wheels under all conditions.

I am aware that certain' ydetails may be modiiied withoutzin any vWay departing from the present invention, and 'I therefore do not intend to be limited except asI defined by the scope and spirit of theiappendedr claims.

I` claim:

1. In combination, a pair of `parallel laterally This provides an opening through 15' porting member l 0, and consequently support vthe spaced axle members, a tubular Wheel spindle disl'posed therebetween, and means for supporting said spindle from said members comprising a body member having a tubular sleeve portion receiving said spindle, a pair of transversely extending arm portions on said sleeve portions spaced axially thereon, web portions interconnecting the free ends of said arm portions, and means on said web portions rigidly securing the same to said supporting members.

2. In combination, an axle spindle, a supporting member comprising a substantially rectangular body portion having an integral transverse sleeve portion receiving said spindle, means formed on each side of said body portion providing. supports for brake plate members, and

axle frame members secured to the opposite ends of said body portion.

y3. The combination of claim 2 wherein said sleeve portion is provided with an integral spring pad portion intermediate said sides of said body portion. y

4. -In combination, an axle spindle, a supporting member therefor comprising 'a sleeve: portion' receiving the inboard end of said spindle, transversely extending arms having theircentral portions integrally joined to each'end'of said -lsleeve portion, web portions interconnecting corresponding ends of said arms, and axle frame Vmembers rigidly secured to said web portions.

5. The combination, With a tubular axle spindle, and a pair of cross membersspaced on opposite sides of said spindle, of connecting means therebetween comprising asleeve portion receiving said spindle and navingtransversely extending arms at each end thereof joined to said sleeve portion intermediate .their ends, means interconnecting the free ends of said'arms and securing the same rigidly to said cross'members, and boss Ymeans formed on the outer'faces of said arms for receiving brake actuating-mechanisms.

6. The combination of claim 5 further characterized in the provision of a spring'pad formed on said sleeve portion intermediate said arms.

'7. In combination, a tubular axle' spindle, a ypair of laterally aspaced axle frame members,

means for interconnecting said spindle" and frame members comprisinga casting having a rectangular body portion provided with an intei-mediate transverse sleeve receiving one end of said spindle, and `integral pad means at the ends of said body portion formingsupports to which said frame members are secured.

S. A casting of the class described including a sleeve portion adapted to receive and rigidly rsupport an axle spindle', transversely extending parallel arms formed integral'with the vends of said sleeve portion, andintegral webs "joining the free ends of said arms and providing a rigid support for receiving the adjacent ends of laterally extending axle frame members.

9. The casting of claim 8` further characterized in the provision of a springpad'iormed on said sleeve portion intermediate said arms.

lFltEDERICK W. BURGER. 

